London Eurovision Party – The press event at today’s London Eurovision Party is now over and the show has just started, but here are just a few more photos of some of this year’s representatives and former Eurovision stars from this afternoon.
It was lovely to see Conchita back!
Alma from France was looking radiant.
Her and Kasia from Poland were pleased to meet up again.
Francesco from Italy was very much in demand with the press.
The Eurovision Times 
OMG Jana Burceska playbacked in London! :/
I wouldn’t sing live on that stage either
FYROM’S performance is on too and all I get to listen to is the pre-recorded track…
FYROM, DK and France are out!
Out? As out of contention?
as in “they’re released”
Are you surprised? :-P
Not really :P
I declare Demy better at lip-synching :-P
yes, this was plain awful to watch :/
wait, some people seriously think Bulgaria’s typical esc and heard before but Estonia isnt? kss…
“Verona” is the most traditional Eurovision song this year according to Eurosong DK.
I agree. And then Greece. These two make me insanely furious in how they could ONLY exist inside the esc bubble!
The same applies to Denmark imo.
“Verona” sounds like a Modern Talking b side …
I disagree on this.Songs like Georgia,Greece,Malta etc are far more traditional esc songs than Estonia.
If we were talking about this 5 years ago I d say Bulgaria is far too alike a music piece achieving success outside esc but I feel like with the contest attracting more and more music that can exist the day after the final, “Beautiful Mess” is just a continuation of that trend.
In terms of more “by the book” esc entries there are some that copied all the negative stereotypes related to the contest (Italy, Montenegro) and then there are those, like let’s say Georgia or Estonia that do assemble some very “eurovision 101” elements but are able to float IMO at least due to some e.g. lyrical meticulousness in Estonia’s case.
GOOSH how this Anja from Denmark is annoying to me, I can’t describe it with words, I get desire to throw empty plastic bottles at her while I watch her performance, especially when she starts screaming like crazy somewhere towards the end.. LOL :D
I feel the same!
:D
She is one crazy screamer. Only in ESC that is considered singing like a diva. She can’t control her voice at all. Lungs are huge of course, as we all can see!
OMG, I adore your comments! :D
Ah, thank you 😃
And her tits nightmare. So unfair.
She can always do s
I saw a poster of our Anthony in Camden today. By the way I was at a gig last night and have one coming up early May plus 3 theatres to watch in May.
Anthony’s posters should be spread around Europe. Shame GQ is not that big magazine.
You are very culture busy. Ibtjoihjt you wouldn’t do anything for months after worshipping your living goddess.
Ibtjoihjt ?
I thought
She can always do a US tour in Hooters. Big tips quaranteed.
Oh,FYROM looks disappointing.Not just because it was playback but i didn’t like her on stage.It could be a FFF.
The bookers are killing Belgium atm.
Noticed !
7th to qualify :(
Is Dihaj performing tonight guys?
I didn’t find her vocals bad but she is plain boring to watch.
No.She won’t be in Amsterdam either.
Grrrr! I want to listen to Skeletons live :p
She was on tour in Tbilisi
Poor Blanche!She follows all those stats so she’ll be even more stressed out next time. :(
I don’t care tbh. I am not a great fun of her and her song anyway.
I believe, I will only appreciate more if it is well stage live. Atm I feel smth is missing. Still it can qualify because it is a good song.
I’m on the minority who likes Denmark and Anja was really good tonight!
And now FYRoM tied at 10th place.
Electro and natural live vocals seldom matches well.
She never had vocal skills to begin with. Only the stage presentation will save them.
It’s doable. That totally uncharismatic shoe gazing rock group from Tbilisi looked good on stage last year, cos nobody saw the them.
FYROM 10th was happening before London’s performances
Expected vocals from FIN, MLT, ROU and NOR.
Also CZE was warm enough.
Alma improved on her stage confidence.
Levina was more than ok too.
Anja still screams her lungs out, breathlessly
Jana Burčeska to the crowd :
“You know the song right? Will you sing along? Cause I’m kinda tired, I don’t know if I can sing”…
Lol
Omar sings his new “polished” version. I wonder how it feels to come back in esc having to face a possible 2nd elimination once again?
I think the piano solo is what may take Finland to the final after all.
Only Albania and Sweden missing from the uploaded videos
Sweden is out.
Robin is good!
He is! But we knew that from last year, because he went from his ballad to a VERY mf entry didnt mean he stopped being good?
Biggest winner of the night is definately Nathan Trent. Bucketloads of charisma, he just shines on stage.
Blanche and Kristian stood their ground well. Blanche served her introverted artistic style very well in a very fussy environment (betting odds can say whatever they want – they hardly decided the result last year when they had Ukraine falling rapidly after the semi for example..).
Kristian was very good vocally as well and he has a charming, modern stage presence.
Lucie and Anja both delivered exceptional performances. I d dare to say 2 of the best performers this year.
Anja’s vocals are world class, she really deserves much more after esc.
Robin rocks!
I just watched Blanche again and it was fine.Not perfect but singing this kind of song in front of an audience in a bar i wonder what else she could do.She did look a bit out of place but with all the esc staging and with the instructions she will be given i hope it will work fine.
I actually think we could be watching the first “expected FFF” that will ACTUALLY do fine! People seek so much a FFF that they jump on anything!
I must have missed something. “FFF”? Freakin’ Fan Favourite?
“Fan Favorite Flop”
I thought so. I always knew it as “a Kate Ryan”.
We frequently use “To do a Kate Ryan” here too. :)
yes it’s a very Belgian thing, it started with Xandee back when the Internet took over Eurovision
Or is it Fan Favourite Flop?
The esckaz videos are closer to the stage.This is Blanche who starts off shaking(poor girl)but becomes more confident as the song builds up:
This sounds better. Let’s see how it develops on esc stage.
All the eckaz videos are better quality actually.I suggest you watch them.
This is not her stage for sure. I am still very happy with her vocals. But this is what you get with Blanche nothing more nothing less. That’s her style of peforming, that’s what she sells on stage. Very introverted young girl that catches everyone’s attention with those unexpected vocals. And I think that’s what fits “City Lights”. I really dont know what everyone expected tbh.
She’s visibly stressed out at the start of the song but she becomes a bit more confident after the positive feedback she gets from the audience.I hope that she will perform the song in front of a live audience more to gain more confidence.
She can’t sell it at all. She’s just there saying the words. The song is somewhere outside of her.
Well said
Comments on other performances :
Levina and Martina are just so good live. Levina’s live vocals are at a level where I wonder truly if its live or playback – it does seem to sing live though. Martina has such a warm personality and stage presence..and the vocals just on point tonight.
Alma gets the award for most improved. She seemed quite at ease and the vocals were there as well.
Claudia Faniello invests so much emotion accompanied by great vocals and these are the biggest strenghts of Malta this year – I dont know if it will be enough to get them to the final.
Latvia and Norway both have songs that fit the club environment of the venue for the party and really get a boost there. I want the singer of Triana Park a tad more focused personally though.
Robin just slays the pack. On point performance and comfortable stage presence even without the slick choreography. Top 5 material.
Norma John were very good per usual but this is another song I dont feel like it fits the club-esque environment and close contact with the audience of this party.
Manel tries really hard to sell his song in the best way possible but I am afraid it just feels…off and underwhelming.
Jana seems to get a lot of online criticism for apparently not singing live. I also tend to think that was the case. She needs to work on her stage presence for that kind of song for sure though.
Kasia was good but I felt I could not hear her that clearly amidst all the noise.
Montenegro is..montenegro. It can do little to nothing to be saved. Slavko’s not quite competent vocals do not help mucj either.
Italy is as embarassing as ever…I would walk out in protest if I was there if I saw all this mockery of the contest essentially on stage.
Here comes that time of the year (well, spring break, and with that me having BoNF time)…
So through the season I put some songs on “keep” and then looking back at all songs in all NF/Internal selection, I kept 85 songs on keep this year, with almost every country having at least one: Albania (3), Armenia (1), Austria (1), Azerbaijan (1), Belarus (3), Belgium (1), Bulgaria (1), Czech Rep (1), Denmark (2), Estonia (9), Finland (3), France (1), Georgia (4), Germany (1), Hungary (4), Iceland (8), Ireland (1), Italy (1), Latvia (6), Macedonia (1), Malta (1), Moldova (1), Norway (2), Poland (2), Portugal (5), Romania (1), Serbia (1), Slovenia (3), Sweden (9), Ukraine (7)
Then I needed to rank these 85 songs to keep the 30 BoNF semifinalists. Always a heart breaking decision. If I only pick my favorite love songs of the year, I only get around 20. So when I open up the last ten spots, I always can’t decide: I try to keep personal quirks out (so Ireland didn’t make it, though I do <3 it knowing its flaws… on the other hand, Armenia's got such a big response I put it in, while I personally don't like it). I also try to keep as much diversity as possible, both in terms of songs, styles than countries.
85 Georgia Tornike Kipiani & Giorgi Bolotashvili You are my sunshine
84 Iceland Erna Mist Pétursdóttir Skuggamynd
83 Belarus Nuteki Take my heart
82 Moldova Sunstroke Project Hey mama
81 Germany Axel Feige Perfect life
80 Estonia Carl-Philip Madis Everything but you
79 Malta Crosswalk So simple
78 Romania Maxim feat. Nicolae Voiculet Adu-ti aminte
77 Portugal Pedro Gonçalves Dont walk away
76 Ukraine Melovin Wonder
75 Estonia Karl-Kristjan Kingi & Whogaux feat. Maian Have you now
74 Albania Dilan Reka Mos harro
73 Austria Nathan Trent Running on air
72 Georgia The Mins Crime
71 Belarus Vladislav Kurasov Follow the play
70 Finland My First Band Paradise
69 Ukraine Aghiazma Synthetic sun
68 Finland Lauri Yrjölä Helppo elämä
67 Albania Franc Koruni Macka
66 Sweden Ace Wilder Wild child
65 Slovenia Zala Đurić Ribič Lalalatino
64 Portugal Inês Sousa Se o tempo não falasse
63 Serbia Tijana Bogićević In too deep
62 Estonia Angeelia Maasik We ride with our flow
61 Albania Genc Salihu Ketu
60 Iceland Aron Brink Þú hefur dáleitt mig
59 Ukraine Roma Veremeychik & Lumiere Make it real
58 Latvia Up One by one
57 Iceland Arnar Jónsson & Rakel Pálsdóttir Til mín
56 France Alma Requiem
55 Estonia Almost Natural Electric
54 Portugal Beea Ao teu olhar
53 Slovenia BQL Heart of gold
52 Sweden Mariette A million years
51 Iceland Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir Bammbaramm
50 Latvia Franco Franco Up
49 Hungary Zävodi + Olivér Berkes #háttérzaj
48 Sweden Nano Hold on
47 Latvia The HiQ Taju ot lyubvi
46 Iceland Aron Hannes Emilsson Nótt
45 Hungary The Couple Vége van
44 Estonia Lenna Kuurmaa Slingshot
43 Latvia Triana Park Line
42 Belarus Navi Historyja majho žyccia
41 Sweden Boris René Her kiss
40 Iceland Júlí Heiðar Halldórsson & Þórdís Birna Borgarsdóttir Heim til þín
39 Georgia Asea Sool Nature
38 Poland Kasia Moś Flashlight
37 Portugal Fernando Daniel Poema a dois
36 Denmark Mercury calling Big little lies
35 Estonia Elina Born In or out
34 Sweden Les Gordons Bound to fall
33 Ireland Brendan Murray Dying to try
32 Norway Jenny Augusta I go where you go
31 Latvia Crime Sea Escape
Therefore, the 30 Semifinalists for BoNF 2017 are (alphabetical order):
Armenia Artsvik Fly with me
Azerbaijan DiHaj Skeletons
Belgium Blanche City lights
Bulgaria Kristian Kostov Beautiful mess
Czech Republic Martina Bárta My turn
Denmark Sada Vidoo Northern lights
Estonia Antsud Vihm
Estonia Kerli Spirit animal
Estonia Rasmus Rändvee This love
Finland Norma John Blackbird
Georgia Malibu We live once
Hungary Spoon 21 Deák
Hungary Mrs Columbo Frozen king
Iceland Daði Freyr Petúrsson Is this love
Iceland Svala Björgvinsdóttir Paper
Italy Francesco Gabanni Occidentali’s karma
Latvia The Ludvig I’m in love with you
Macedonia Jana Burčeska Dance alone
Norway Elin & The Woods First step in faith (Oadjebasvuhtii)
Poland Carmell Faces
Portugal Salvador Sobral Amar pelos dois
Slovenia Raiven Zažarim
Sweden Dismissed Hearts align
Sweden Loreen Statements
Sweden Robin Bengtsson I can’t go on
Sweden Wictoria As I lay me down
Ukraine Letay Svit chekaye
Ukraine Monochromea Blue bird
Ukraine Panivalkova Dokuchayu
Ukraine Vivienne Mort Iniy
20 different countries for 30 songs is maybe a record!
Where’s “Mamaboy”? Kidding :P
Ahah, well I did like it live ;)
No Michelle Bravi,Carmell or Bianca Atzei? :(
The tradition is that SR isnt considered a NF for me, as Italy used to be considered an “internal” choice. Of course, if the winner gets priority it could be changed next year!
and if you mean Poland’s “Carmell”, it’s in
Aaa,yes,it’s in.Great!
Go Loreen and Rasmus :-) !
I see you’ve picked your favorites already!
Of course and this is just the top 2 I am cheering for – there’s more :-)
also worth pointing out, I dont put Australia in BoNF (not an European country); else both 2016 and 2017 could/would have been in ;)
I miss one or two songs but a plausible list all in all. Alas, it wasn’t a particularly strong NF season imo.
a year with only 3 Estonians and 4 Swedes is a bad year anyway… most of my esc friends wanted more Albania or Hungary but I didnt like FiK or A Dal this year :/
Go Estonian rain!
is that your year #1?
No, “Amor pelos dois” is, with “Vihm” second. But I want especially that one to do well because I think it deserved SO much more.
Yes I agree, Portugal or Belgium are my #1 this year!
La la latino? :o
SHOCKED :P
It was indeed in my top 3 of the Slovenian NF :o
Manel just had to go and ruin one of my favourite songs this time period didnt he ?
Watching some interviews before sleeping. I am developing a serious crush on Nathan I have to say :-)
Only ballads work live on stages like London…If I were Blanche would have lip-synched just like Jana did…
I think we should all wait for the rehearsals
What’s the point in taking part in an event like this if you are not planning to sing live?!
Anyway, judging from the comments I’m now kinda worried for my third most favourite song this year.
It’s a question of perspective imo. We fans wait for live performances but for the artists itself it’s more about getting into the mood, meeting other participants and marketing, I guess. At the end of the day, having performed in those club venues won’t help you once you set foot onto the huge ESC stage with all its technology.
I guess you are right.
It won’t help you, but contestants who can sing live definitely miss no chance in showing it to fans, as Kristian, Nathan, Francesco and Robin all did.
You forgot all the ladies who had fine live vocals. ;) :)
I don’t think the ladies had as much of an impact last night, even though some of them like Kasia Mos and Levina are fine singers and Alma put up quite an effort and has visibly improved.
This is Demy actually singing live in “Rising star” last night, even though it’s not her ESC entry but an older Kontopoulos hit of hers that she duets with one of the contestants. She looks like a million dollars in that pink dress:
even Spanish can laugh at themselves when it comes to such talent shows and Eurovision (despite Spanish fan “aggression” notoriety!! :-() the performer , Sílvia Abril, is a famous comedienne here in Spain, ooohoh way..oh :-(
One cannot extrapolate much from last night performances, because the context is completely different from the one of the actual show. That said, the fact that Jana did not sing live is not a good sign at all.
you are right. as always, as we know from experience such shows don’t really represent what happens in ESC and are mainly for the hardcore fans, to be honest I feel sorry for Manel Navarro as viewing his performance I realise most of the audience were either not interested/talking among themselves and to let you ,as he is from Catalonia (Sabadell) a friend of a friend of his family is worried about his participation in ESC, (and from journalistic sources), and all the bullshit around his participation in ESC, I think worse for him, as I understand, is that he was led to believe he’d win both Spanish NF and ESC, with a fantastic song etc and now reality bites and he’s bottom of every poll , and obviously seeing that on a daily basis it must hurt , when you have good intentions about your future, I blame TVE /and TOP 40 journalists for everything above and have told them so of course!! :-)
That is sad.
it’s very sad, I have the impression he has kind of given up re Eurovision and his song, and will do a Beth 2003 , (i.e Catalan singer couldn’t care less about representing Spain but for different reasons maybe )
We’ll see.
indeed. As you know most Spanish ESC fans are supporting Salvador instead, what’s the latest news about him? is he ok helath wise I mean?
health
He is recovering form his surgeries; he has new concerts scheduled for June, July and August and his album has reached the Portuguese top 10, one year after its release.
Have to go now. :)
Maybe she was feeling under the water…
She will eventually have to sing it live…waiting for the rehearsals pasionately
You seem to be in ESC mood finally. :)
LOL I am glad I am in before everything is over 😀
She will. Me too. :)